United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-12-02

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, December 2, 2005

ANNAN POSTPONES ASIA TRIP AT CRITICAL STAGE OF U.N. BUDGET PROCESS

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the governments of China, Republic of Korea, Japan and Vietnam of his intention of postponing the upcoming Asian visit because of pressing matters, in particular the discussions over the UN budget, and other urgent political issues.

Asked whether the budget was the only reason for the postponement of the Secretary-Generals travels, the Spokesman said that the central reasons were the budget issue and the reform issues that had not progressed sufficiently.

Asked who had chosen to postpone the travel, the Spokesman

asserted that it was the Secretary-Generals choice.

Asked about recent comments made by U.S. Ambassador John Bolton on the matter, the Spokesman said that there would be 186 other Member States who would likely appreciate it that the Secretary-General had stayed on. Many people might want to claim credit for the postponement of the Secretary-Generals travel, he observed, but the decision was the Secretary-Generals and his alone.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH KEY COUNTRIES ON U.N. REFORM

The Secretary-General spoke today to Member States representing the regional groups and negotiating groups, such as the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as the five Permanent Representatives of the Security Council.

He told them of his concern regarding the follow-up to the reform summit and appeal to them, as key players within the membership, to work in a spirit of compromise to move the process forward more than two and half months after the end of the summit, notably on the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council and, of course, the budget talks.

ANNAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO U.N. STAFF KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY

The Secretary-General

paid tribute to UN staff who have lost their lives in the cause of peace at a wreath-laying ceremony this morning, in which he said he was struck by the courage, dedication and determination of UN staff.

He said that, when he visited Iraq last month, he saw that morale among staff there was high, two years after the attack on the UN Headquarters in Baghdad.

And he noted that one UN military observer based in Pakistan was determined to continue his work on the Indian-Pakistani border even after he had lost his wife and three children in the October earthquake. These are the types of courage our colleagues have, he said.

ANNAN TELLS STAFF 2005 A ROLLERCOASTER YEAR FOR THE UNITED NATIONS

The Secretary-General today addressed UN staff as the Organization marks Staff Day, and he told them that this has been a rollercoaster year for the United Nations.

He said that the United Nations has drawn the right lessons from the revelations of sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers and the oil-for-food investigation.

Asked by staff about the budget, he said the United Nations lives on the contributions made by its Member States. If a budget is not passed, he said, there would be a financial crunch. The business of the UN is not reform, he said, but rather is about carrying out the mandates it has been given. That business must continue, he asserted, adding that was why he was remaining in New York.

ANNAN WELCOMES NEPAL CEASEFIRE EXTENSION

The Secretary-General

welcomes the news that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has decided to extend by one month the unilateral ceasefire that it had declared in September. It will be recalled that the Secretary-General had recently called for an extension and urged His Majestys Government of Nepal to reciprocate the ceasefire.

Asked about a recent visit by a UN official to Nepal, it was later announced that the official met with all key players, and conveyed the message that the cease-fire should be extended and that the government should reciprocate. He also conveyed a message to the government to act with restraint and allow people to exercise their right to peaceful protest.

SECURITY COUNCIL AGREES ON WORK PROGRAM

The Security Council today held its first consultations for the month of December, under the Presidency of the United Kingdom, and agreed on a

program of work for the month. This afternoon, the members of the Council held their monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General.

Asked whether the Secretary-General would brief the Security Council, under other matters, on Myanmar, the Spokesman said first the Secretariat would await the request from the Council for such a briefing. It would then consider who would provide the briefing.

U.N. ENVOY LAUNCHES HUMANITARIAN APPEAL FOR SUDAN

Jan Pronk, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for

Sudan, gave a press conference today in Geneva where he was

launching the 2006 humanitarian and reconstruction appeal for Sudan to the international donor community.

Asked about reaching a peaceful agreement in Darfur by the end of the year, Pronk said it would not be possible to have a detailed peace agreement like that for the North and the South by the end of the year. He added that a framework agreement which ensured a sustainable ceasefire and outlined the future Government structure and wealth-sharing and security agreement was possible.

Also on Darfur, he said the African Union force was very good, but it was too small. He noted the Security Council should follow up its own commitment of last year to guarantee more security, also with international presence.

UNITED NATIONS GENOCIDE EXPERT VISITS COTE DIVOIRE

Juan Mendez, the Secretary-Generals Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide continued his visit to

Cote dIvoire today.

Mendez said his mission was to assess the situation and make recommendations to the Secretary-General, and through him to the Security Council, if necessary, to prevent human rights violations based on ethnic, racial or religious background.

He flew to the west of the country to visit towns that were the scenes of brutal massacres in June. He ends his visit on Saturday.

IRAQI POLITICAL PROCESS MUST BE INCLUSIVE AND CREDIBLE

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative, today emphasized that

Iraqs political process should be inclusive and credible, with every segment of Iraqi society fully empowered to participate in the upcoming 15 December elections.

Qazi has consistently advocated the visible presence of international observers, and he called upon electoral and government bodies to maintain vigilant accountability to ensure the integrity of the vote, and refrain from imposing measures that will discourage voters. He encouraged voters and local observers to report voting irregularities promptly, in writing, and through the established mechanisms for filing complaints.

He urged all Iraqis to vote, especially since this election will bring about their first permanent Council of Representatives, which will in turn determine the government.

IRAQ: WEAPONS INSPECTORS STILL AT WORK

Out as a document today is the latest quarterly

report by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) dealing with Iraq.

The Commission says that its imagery analysts have continued to review the status of sites subject to inspection and monitoring in Iraq, and have noted that the number of sites cleaned to varying degrees has risen by two, from the previously reported total of 118.

The Commission says that work continues on some parts of the compendium of Iraqs proscribed weapons and programs. An annex to todays report describes the procurement methods that had been used by Iraq.

MORE THAN 400,000 TENTS DELIVERED TO SOUTH ASIA QUAKE VICTIMS

On the South Asia quake, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), new priorities have been

established for December.

They include: continued assistance for up to 380,000 people, who will choose to remain in their homes in remote locations; sufficient and appropriate camp accommodations for some 250,000 people, who will move to lower elevations; support for particularly vulnerable populations; and continued monitoring of the changing situation.

In the eight weeks since the quake hit, 410,000 tents and 3.1 million blankets have been distributed; 300,000 children have been vaccinated; almost 90% of water needs are now being covered in planned camps; and more than 2,000 School in a Box kits are being handed out.

Much, however, remains to be done to consolidate and sustain these gainsespecially as winter closes in and the UNs appeal remains only 40% covered.

EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSITION

IF HARIRI PROBE IS EXTENDED

Asked whether Detlev Mehlis, the head of the International Independent

Investigation Commission examining the February 14 bombing in Beirut, would leave that job after December 15, the Spokesman said that Mehlis had said from the beginning that he could only stay at that job for six months. His obligations in Germany compel him to return.

However, the Spokesman said, he intends to ensure a smooth transition if the Commissions work is extended.

At the same time, Dujarric said, the United Nations was looking at possible successors to Mehlis if the Commission continues its work past mid-December.

Asked about a request from the Government of Lebanon for the Commissions extension, the Spokesman said that the request would be transmitted to the Security Council, since any extension of the Commission past December 15 would require a new decision by the Council.

VOLCANIC ERUPTION SURVIVORS IN COMOROS RECEIVE WATER

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a volcano in the Comoros Islands has been

erupting for the last two weeks, causing up to 250,000 people to flee their homes.

UNICEF reports that it has so far provided 280,000 litres of drinking water, and will probably have to continue to do so, given that some 250,000 people are without water supplies.

For its part, the World Health Organization will provide technical expertise to the authorities in order to assess public health and water and sanitation conditions.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED BY NEW EUROPEAN ASYLUM MEASURE: The Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees has

expressed concern that a controversial European Union (EU) directive on asylum procedures may cause a serious downgrading of asylum standards in the EU and beyond. The 25 EU member states formally adopted the directive without discussion on Thursday in Brussels. The asylum procedures directive sets minimum norms on how decisions on asylum claims in EU member states should be made.

ANNAN MARKS ANTI-SLAVERY DAY: Today is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. To mark the occasion, the Secretary-General has issued a

message, saying that people who perpetrate, condone or facilitate slavery must be held accountable by national and, if necessary, international means.

ANNAN REPORTS ON CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: In the Secretary-Generals latest

report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, he notes that, over the past five years, there have been new challenges to the safety and well-being of civilian populations, and that the tools that we have at our disposal to address those concerns need to be developed accordingly. The Secretary-Generals suggested tactics include improvements in the design of peacekeeping missions, namely through mandates that address specific protection needs, and the enhancement of regional organizations.

DISABLED PERSONS DAY TO BE OBSERVED TOMORROW: Tomorrow is the International Day for Disabled Persons, and the Secretary-General has issued a message saying that equal participation requires not only dismantling environmental, social and legal barriers that marginalize persons with disabilities. It also means making jobs, education, health, information and other services just as accessible to them as to everyone else.